Fila Brasileiro: Your Complete Guide
The Fila Brasileiro is a unique large dog from Brazil, historically used as a guard dog and hunting dog. These massive dogs are fiercely loyal and protective, and they do best when they are kept on rural properties and given a job to perform.
Your Fila Brasileiro will form a strong bond with its family, but it will be distrustful of strangers and even other animals. It takes an experienced owner to properly care for the Fila Brasileiro.
Our complete guide gives you an overview of this interesting breed, in addition to details about their temperament and care needs. While it is uncommon to find the Fila Brasileiro outside of the United States, if you are considering adding one to your family, it’s important to keep in mind their personalities and proper care needs.
A Quick Look at the Fila Brasileiro
Below is a quick glance at this special breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 26 to 30 inches, 140 to 180 pounds |
| Coat Type | Short, straight, and smooth |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding | |
| Temperament | Fearless, protective, energetic, alert |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence |  |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level |  |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 9 to 11 years |
What Is the History of the Fila Brasileiro?
The exact history and origins of this Fila Brasileiro are difficult to track down, as this dog has been around for centuries and is rarely seen outside of Brazil and the surrounding areas. What is known is that this dog is a Mastiff-type dog, a descendant from Ancient Greek Molosser breeds, and it has existed for centuries in Brazil in some form.
The “Fila” in Fila Brasileiro comes from the Portuguese word “Filar,” which means “to hold.” This pays homage to these dogs and their hunting abilities, where they would aid their owners by taking game by the neck and holding it down until a hunter could arrive.
While many Mastiff-type dogs have straighter toplines (this is the line that goes from the neck of the dog and down their back), the Fila Brasileiro has a topline where their rump is higher than their shoulders, giving them slightly longer back legs and a unique appearance when standing.
Today, the Fila Brasileiro is hard to find in the United States, and this breed is primarily utilized as a guarding and hunting dog. They need very experienced owners and lots of space, plus a job, to stay happy.
What Does the Fila Brasileiro Look Like?
The Fila Brasileiro may have a solid coat in fawn, black, or brown, or they may have a brindle coat. These dogs are large, and they appear quite muscular. The Fila Brasileiro’s rump will stand slightly taller than its shoulders, and long legs support this appearance. The face of this dog has a square muzzle with floppy ears, and they appear very much like a Mastiff breed in the face. The tail of the Fila Brasileiro is long and straight, but it may also have a slight curl to the end of it.
What Size Is a Fila Brasileiro?
Fila Brasileiros are large dogs, and they will stand between 28 and 35 inches at the shoulders, with females being no taller than 32 inches. These dogs can weigh a lot, and your female Fila Brasileiro may weigh between 130 and 160 pounds, while male Fila Brasileiros will weigh between 140 and 180 pounds.
What Is a Fila Brasileiro’s Coat Type and Length?
Fila Brasileiros have short and smooth coats, and their fur is quite dense even though it doesn’t look too thick on the surface. Sometimes, the fur of the Fila Brasileiro can feel rather wiry, but it tends to lay flat against their bodies.
What Is a Fila Brasileiro’s Temperament?
Historically used as a protector and hunting dog, the Fila Brasileiro has a loyal, observant, and alert personality. These dogs tend to form strong bonds with their families, and they never really learn to accept others into the family unit they grew up with due to their more suspicious nature. The Fila Brasileiro can be wary of others and fairly active, and they need jobs, exercise, and plenty of mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy.
Your Fila Brasileiro can be a handful, and it’s important that you have experience with dogs before adopting this breed. Your dog will need structure, space, and likely a rural property where they can roam or complete jobs to avoid any negative behaviors from occurring.
Are Fila Brasileiros Good With Kids?
Fila Brasileiros may be good with children if they grow up with the children and see them as part of their family unit. However, these dogs are very large, and they should not be left to play with rowdy or very young children due to the risk of accidental injury. They may also be suspicious of new children who enter the family unit after they are fully grown. In general, the Fila Brasileiro does better in a home with adults only or a mix of adults and teenagers they grow up around.
Are Fila Brasileiros Good With Other Animals?
Your Fila Brasileiro should not be kept in a home with other animals, as this dog has a very high prey drive and is very protective. Fila Brasileiros, even when trained, may still chase smaller animals and attempt to attack or hunt prey animals or other dogs they live around. It takes a lot of control and training to prevent these behaviors in your dog.
Fila Brasileiros may be ok with dogs that they grow up with, but, in general, it’s better if your Fila Brasileiro is the only animal in the home or if they are an exclusively outdoor dog that works on a farm or guards a rural area.
Are Fila Brasileiros Aggressive?
Fila Brasileiros can be aggressive as these dogs are bred to hunt and guard. However, they are not generally aggressive when unprovoked, and it takes a perceived threat on their wards or on their families to activate barking and growling. Your Fila Brasileiro can be territorial, and it may take lots of training to curb these behaviors and encourage your dog to become more tolerant of trusted individuals or another dog they grow up alongside.
Do Fila Brasileiros Bark?
Fila Brasileiros are not known to be the loudest barkers, and they are not known to bark frequently. These dogs will only use their voices if they are warning someone or something not to come close to them or their families. You can expect your Fila Brasileiro to be fairly quiet unless they are alerting you to a problem around your property.
Are Fila Brasileiros Affectionate?
Even though Fila Brasileiros form strong bonds with their family members, they are not the most affectionate dogs in terms of wanting to be petted and cuddled. These dogs tend to show devotion to their owners and wish to be around them, protecting them from the outside of the home or taking up residence near the doors of a room that their families are in. They may seek attention on their terms, but this is not usual. Your Fila Brasileiro will be suspicious of strangers, and they are happiest when accompanying their owners on outdoor adventures.
Are Fila Brasileiros Intelligent?
Overall, the Fila Brasileiro is an intelligent dog. They need mental stimulation to stay happy, and they will generally thrive when given tasks or jobs to complete. The best living situation for a Fila Brasileiro is on a farm or in another rural space where they can guard property and participate in various types of training. These dogs are typically very loyal and alert to what their owner says, but they can be stubborn and have opinions of their own when it comes to training, so it takes a lot of patience and firm leadership to keep this dog’s mind active.
Are Fila Brasileiros Energetic?
Fila Brasileiros are high-energy dogs, and they are also very large dogs, which means that they need ample amounts of exercise to stay happy. You can take your Fila Brasileiro on long outdoor hikes and adventures, but try to stay away from dog parks or other areas where your dog might be tempted to chase a smaller animal they see as prey. Your Fila Brasileiro will do best in homes where they can spend lots of time outdoors playing with their owners or working on puzzle toys that reward them with treats.
Are Fila Brasileiros Easy to Train?
Fila Brasileiros are trainable, but it does take lots of effort and consistency. These dogs are smart, but they are also very independent, and they may be stubborn when it comes to settling into a training routine. They can typically learn more complex tasks, and they thrive when it comes to learning commands for guarding animals or hunting. Lots of patience and an experienced owner are best for training the Fila Brasileiro.
Are Fila Brasileiros Good Watchdogs?
Fila Brasileiros are wonderful watchdogs, as this has been their historical purpose. These dogs are alert and protective, and they are not afraid to put themselves between their owner or wards and danger. Fila Brasileiros are also very strong and adept when it comes to tracking prey, and they will have no problem protecting their wards in a fight and emerging the victor.
Are Fila Brasileiros Good Service Dogs?
Fila Brasileiros are not good service dogs, as they don’t have the temperament for it. Service dogs must be eager to please, happy to stay by their owner no matter what, and generally very mild-mannered. While the Fila Brasileiro is happy to be around their families, they can be suspicious of strangers, and they aren’t the most consistent when it comes to completing tasks like opening or closing doors, guiding their owners, and fetching medications.
Fila Brasileiros are also not the most affectionate, and they can be somewhat aloof with those outside of their inner circle. This means that they may not be the best choice for working as a therapy dog or an emotional support dog.
Additionally, owners must be able to provide the Fila Brasileiro with lots of open space and exercise, which is something that some individuals with certain disabilities are not able to do. This breed also requires significant training, and this can be difficult for some to complete when they need a service dog’s help.
How to Care for a Fila Brasileiro?
The Fila Brasileiro is a unique breed, and they have a unique set of care requirements. Unlike most dog breeds commonly seen in the United States, this dog needs ample outdoor space and does best when allowed to roam in rural areas. They thrive on farms and in other locations where they can complete daily jobs, and while they still need care and shelter, they are almost happier acting as outdoor dogs, watching over their families.
You will need to make sure your Fila Brasileiro has plenty of exercise each day, and you will need to ensure that they are properly trained to avoid them chasing after smaller animals that catch their eye. These dogs also need consistent training and socialization as they grow up, as this is something that stops them from being too territorial.
You can leave your Fila Brasileiro unattended for several hours at a time, but make sure they are in a secure space and not at risk for running off; this isn’t likely, but these dogs love to exercise in the outdoors.
Take your dog to the vet for regular check-ups and treat them as you would any other dog – with love and patience.
Do You Need to Groom a Fila Brasileiro?
Fila Brasileiros have short, smooth coats that don’t generally need professional grooming, making grooming your dog relatively easy. These dogs do need brushing a few times a week to remove loose fur from their dense coats and prevent it from causing knots. This also helps to keep their fur short and their coats feeling as nice as possible. Typically, your Fila Brasileiro will only require a bath as needed, and it’s good to bathe them from a young age so they are used to the process.
Do Fila Brasileiros Shed?
Fila Brasileiros shed a low to average amount. Their short, smooth fur does not fall off of them at too fast of a rate, and loose fur can generally be brushed out of their coats and collected. These dogs are not hypoallergenic.
What Health Problems Do Fila Brasileiros Have?
The Fila Brasileiro is prone to many health problems that larger breeds develop. This dog may develop hip or elbow dysplasia as it ages, something which can cause pain when walking. Fila Brasileiros may also be prone to bloat, eye problems, and heart disease. You can catch serious health issues before they become too much of a problem by taking your Fila Brasileiro to the vet once or twice a year for check-ups.
How Long Do Fila Brasileiros Live?
Fila Brasileiros do not have the longest lifespan, as these dogs are quite large; bigger dogs tend to have shorter overall lifespans. In general, your Fila Brasileiro may live between 9 and 11 years old, though the care they receive and any genetic health issues can impact their longevity.
What Should a Fila Brasileiro Eat?
As a big dog, your Fila Brasileiro will need lots of calories throughout the day. You can feed your dog a high-quality diet of wet or dry food or mix these food types together. In terms of cups of food, this depends on the caloric content of the food you feed your Fila Brasileiro, their specific size, and their age. Typically, your dog will eat around three cups of food per day. Consult with your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your dog’s diet.
Is a Fila Brasileiro the Right Dog for Me?
The Fila Brasileiro can be a wonderful dog for the right person – someone who does not have young children or other animals and is able to give this dog the ample space and exercise they need is a perfect fit for this dog. Owners looking for a guard dog, protection dog, or hunting dog also make good homes for the Fila Brasileiro.
However, you should keep in mind that the Fila Brasileiro only does well with experienced dog owners, and this breed may be somewhat difficult to adopt outside of Brazil and the surrounding areas. Make sure you are aware of red flags with breeders inside the United States and that you pay attention to breed restrictions in your area, as the Fila Brasileiro can be a difficult breed to own within some states.